Folding foot rest



Sept. 27, 1966 L. F. RAUCH 3,275,283

FOLDING FOOT REST Filed Oct. 18, 1965 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 3,275,283 FOLDING FOOT REST Lauren F. Ranch, Box 33, Jenera, Ohio Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,865 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-205) This invention relates generally to bathroom equipment. More specifically it relates to shower stall accessories.

It is generally well known that a person finds it difficult when taking a shower to support himself while raising his foot to wash the same. This is particularly true in the case of older persons.

Accordingly it is a principal object of the invention to provide a foldable foot rest and seat which may be installed in a shower or over a bath tub to selectively support a persons foot while washing the same or provide a seat for comfortably seating a person during such task.

Another object is to provide a folding foot rest and seat which is retractable into the wall when not in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown installed in a shower stall.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the invention shown per se.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the seat element per se.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the numeral represents a folding foot rest and seat according to the present invention wherein there is a housing 11 which is mounted into a wall 12 of a shower stall 13 or over a bath tub.

The housing comprises a sheet metal pan 14 having a rear wall 15, side walls 16, top wall 17 and inclined bottom wall 18 to effect drainage. A peripheral flange 19 having openings 20 provides means for securement to the bathroom wall,

A cross brace 21 having openings 22 and a block 23 having an opening 24 provide support means for a seat unit 25 having a panel 26 and frame 27 with lugs 28 and 29 receivable within the openings 22 and 24 respectively. A sleeve 30 is secured to the underice side of cross brace 21 and another sleeve 31 is secured to bottom wall 18 to provide bearing means for a pivotable foot rest frame 32 having horizontal arm 33 padded with a rubber mat 34 for supporting a persons foot 35. The sleeve 31 has a pair of notches 36 and 37 to receive a pin 38 secured on frame 32 for the purpose of holding the frame in swung out or swung in position. A compression coil spring 39 within sleeve 30 bears against the top of frame 32 to normally urge the pin 38 in engagement with one of the notches 36 or 37.

In operative use, the person desiring to use the foot rest merely raises the frame slightly to disengage the pin 38 from notch 36. He then ivots the frame outward until the pin engages notch 37 thus securing the frame in outward position. He then can rest his foot on the mat 34 as shown in FIGURE 2.

To use the seat, the frame 32 is left in swung in position as shown in FIGURE Z and the seat is installed by placing lugs 28 and 29 into openings 22 and 24 respectively.

What I now claim is:

1. In a folding foot rest and seat the combination of a housing unit, a foot rest unit and a seat unit supported on said housing unit, said set unit being removable from said housing unit and said foot rest unit being pivotable between a storage position within said housing and a utility position outside of said housing.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a pan having a peripheral flange with openings therethrough for mounting on a wall, said pan having a rear wall opposite side walls, top wall and inclined bottom wall to effect drainage.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said seat unit com-prises a horizontal brace having openings therein, a block, an opening, a seat secured to a frame said frame having lugs receivable within said openings, said brace extending across an upper portion of said pan and said block being secured to the said bottom wall.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said foot rest unit comprises an upper sleeve secured to the underside of said brace, a lower sleeve secured on said bottom wall, a frame pivotally supported between said sleeve, a compression coil spring within said upper sleeve normally urging said frame downward, said frame having a pin, said lower sleeve having a pair of notches to selectively receive said pin for retaining said frame in selectively a utility or storage position and said frame including a horizontal a-rm having a rubber mat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,142,513 7/1964 Skokut 297-349 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A FOLDING FOOT REST AND SEAT THE COMBINATION OF A HOUSING UNIT, A FOOT REST UNIT AND A SEAT UNIT SUPPORTED ON SAID HOUSING UNIT, SAID SET UNIT BEING REMOVABLE FROM SAID HOUSING UNIT AND SAID FOOT REST UNIT BEING 